Gul Panag was born in Punjab, into a second generation armed forces family. She travelled all over the country due to her father’s frequent transfers and studied in as many as 14 schools! Finally ending up with a BA in Mathematics and Masters in Political Science. With keen interest in sport and public speaking, she’s won many national level debating competitions, including gold medals twice, at the Annual National Inter University Debate.
With her multi talented personality she entered and won the Miss India Pageant and was crowned Miss India Universe in 1999, still only in her teens. She dabbled in modeling, worked in TV shows and started her film career with Dhoop, went on to deliver critically acclaimed performances inDor, Manorama Six Feet Under & Summer 2007. Her recent projects include Fatso,Hello Darling and the eagerly awaited Rann directed by Ram Gopal Varma. Her TV commercial for Titan Raga watches and recent Tata Sky ad with Amir Khan have been noted well by the audience.
MM: How has been the year gone by 2009 for you?
Gul Panag: One film released in 2009 and I was busy shooting for my upcoming films for 2010, it was therefore a very busy year. I did different things like I covered the Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week that was a revealing experience; I got my solo Para-gliding license , lots of travel, I ended up going for wild life safari, had a chance to spend time with my family. So basically been really busy wrapping up my films- one being Fatso, I wrapped up Runn last year. So this has been a really busy year.
MM: What are your expectations from the year 2010?
Gul: Well whatever has to happen had happened; I don’t have any expectations from the year. Whatever has to happen, will happen.
MM: You are one celebrity who despite being in the public eye has never shied away from defying the rules and doing things her own way. Did it ever scare you to stand out and be judged?
Gul: I was brought up in a way to stand out and not be a part of the crowd. A lot of times when you are in school, you are in a new environment- in your job, at your work place, you try and blend in and that is expected from you and that makes you comfortable but I have always felt that you need to stand out in life, that is how you are remembered and only way you are irreplaceable if you are unique and different, if you would be like everybody else, why would they want you?
MM: After you won the Miss India crown, why did you choose to become an actor?
Gul: Well it was a combination of a lot of factors. I knew I was talented enough to pretty much do anything I set my eyes on and I had the opportunity to take up a couple of things because I was known in the industry through the Miss India Pageant and some television which I had done and I felt that I did have an acting background in school, I studied theater in England so I thought that I might as well do this and I am glad I took it and I am enjoying it.
MM: What aspects do you consider while selecting a role?
Gul: The story is very important, the vision of the director is very important, and the other thing that I have learned over a period of time is that is the way the film is going to be released. There are many good films but you don’t see a good release and you don’t see a good marketing job and that is not very good for the film, you may put in a lot for a good film but if it’s not marketed well then there is no use. The production plan of the producer is also very important. Having said that, the one thing that counts most for me is the script and the character of the film. Above all is the gut instinct that matters to me.
MM: Many actors are choosing to take matters in their own hands by turning producers. What do you think is the reason behind this? Do you plan to set-up your own production house?
Gul: Well, it’s a natural progression. When you are a part of cinema, then why wouldn’t you want to make a platform where to make the films which you would like to see? And I am no different; I mean I definitely see myself setting up a production house.
MM: Speaking now of your fashion choices, what does fashion means to you?
Gul: Fashion to me is the way you are, the way you carry yourself, the way you live. It’s everything, not just clothes, it’s just the way you are and for me fashion is about being comfortable, standing out. I don’t want to do something that everyone is else is doing, I don’t want to follow a trend that everybody is following. I just wear whatever I like and I’m comfortable in.
MM: Who are your favorite designers and why?
Gul: I like Anita Dongre’s clothes a lot, they are very classy, they have the right amount of drama, I like Mandira Wirk and Urvashi Kaur. All three are known for their classic silhouettes. I also like Gauri and Nainika very much.
MM: Do you have any fashion icons that you look up to?
Gul: I suppose Nicole Kidman, to some extent. She has a classic touch to her.
MM: You were always very selective of the endorsements you took on. What is your reason for it? Which ad campaign do you consider to be your best?
Gul: I think Tata Sky has been the most rewarding association of mine so far. It is a great product, I use the product, I swear by the product. I always look in for an opportunity to be associated with a brand I really believe in.
MM: How do you manage to juggle so many things like relationships, acting, travelling, endorsements, twitting?
Gul: Well everybody does that. Twitter does not take much time, it is like sending messages, I can sit in the car and twit. Besides that I am not doing anything which is very different, we are staying in an urban society where everybody is doing multiple things so this is not difficult.
MM: You represented Twitter at Will India Fashion Week and were twitting on the activities regularly. How was the experience?
Gul: Well it was a thrilling experience. I was doing something like this for the first time, it is an absolutely new thing way of covering an event and I think it was an eye opener for me.
MM: What is your fitness regime?
Gul: I work out four to five days in a week and I never think about it after this.
MM: Finally can you talk about your upcoming projects?
Gul: I have Runn releasing in two weeks, then I have Fatso- Rajat Kapoor film and Mukhtar’s film coming up.
